Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies, a project of the Center for the Study of Environment and Society (CSES), offers several interdisciplinary environmental courses that are not tied to any major. The CSES also strives to help students choose the course of study on the environment that best matches their personal interests. Students wishing for more information may contact Michael Smith or Walter Isle.

Environmental Studies Courses

• ENST 101 The Sustainable Environment
• ENST 113 Environmental Crisis Seminar: Water
• ENST 201/301 Introduction to the Environment: Environmental History and Environmental Literature
• ENST 302 Environmental Issues: Rice Into the Future
• ENST 312 Environmental Battles in the 21st Century: Houston as a Microcosm

Environmental Science Double Major

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary major coordinated by the Center for the Study of Environment and Society. It addresses environmental issues in the context of what we know about earth, ecology, and society. In addition to its science core, the major also seeks to provide students with some appreciation of social, cultural, and policy dimensions of environmental issues, as well as exposure to the technologies of pollution control.
Advisor: Paul Harcombe (harcomb@rice.edu)
Website: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~cses/education/es.html

Environmental Engineering

The Environmental Engineering major is an interdisciplinary program housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and administered by a committee of professors from several departments on campus. The major covers the breadth of water, soil and air media within the context of engineering technologies and approaches to problem solving. The degree requires a foundation in the natural sciences and electives in many departments, giving students a broad, interdisciplinary background for further study of environmental engineering.
Advisor: Mason Tomson (mtomson@rice.edu)
Website: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~ceedept/ceve.curr.htm

Environmental Policy Double Major

Environmental Policy is a track within the Policy Studies major. This program gives students a background in how environmental policies are developed and how science and engineering issues are included in effective policy. For more information, please contact Don Ostdiek or visit the Policy Studies Website.

Chemical Engineering - Environmental Focus

The Chemical Engineering Department requires undergraduates to choose a focus area as part of the B.S.ChE. program. One of the focus areas students may select is Environmental Engineering.

Environment & Culture

This is a program under development. It will approach the study of the environment from the perspective of the Humanities. For details, contact Walter Isle.